Irish Aid Volunteering Fair 2016 Brochure by Department of Foreign Affairs

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IRISH AID VOLUNTEERING FAIR:

BE PART OF THE PICTURE

01.10.16

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Irish Aid Volunteering Fair 2016:

Welcome to the Irish Aid Volunteering Fair: Be Part of the Picture Minister of State Foreword 2

Welcome to the Irish Aid Volunteering Fair I am delighted to welcome you to the 2016 Irish Aid Volunteering Fair – Be Part of the Picture. The Fair provides a face-to-face wealth of information and advice on international development volunteering opportunities. This year’s Fair celebrates the longstanding contribution of Irish volunteers to development and invites those, who might not yet have considered how they can contribute, to volunteer their time, experience and skills to developing communities overseas. One of the things that has struck me since taking on this job is the centrality of development to almost every challenge we face, whether it is the more abiding concerns of hunger, poverty the mass movement of people, fragile states or the more recent issues of the spread of terrorism or eﬀect of outof-kilter weather patterns on people’s livelihoods. In 2015, we saw the achievement of landmark agreements in the areas of climate control and in International Development. I am proud to say that Ireland, together with Kenya, facilitated the adoption of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development (SDGs) by the United

Nations. While this was an extraordinary achievement of the 193 states involved, we must now engage in the challenge of implementing the goals, in Ireland as elsewhere, if we are to achieve the specific objectives within the timeframe of the agreement to 2030. In this respect, it is significant that the United Nations has recognised the powerful implementation potential of volunteering in international development. Through responsible volunteering, we anchor the universal spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals. As volunteers, we play a role in helping communities less fortunate than our own and, in turn, our learning from those communities benefits our own. Our theme this year, “Be Part of the Picture” invites you to engage with the global agenda for international development and I encourage each and every one of you to become part of that picture, to seek out responsible and sustainable volunteering opportunities and to encourage your friends and family to do the same. I am proud of Irish Aid’s commitment to volunteering. Our Volunteering Initiative, launched in

2013, works to strengthen support for volunteering at each stage of the volunteering process - from the information stage to the volunteer’s return. It works also to modernise support for volunteering, encourage innovation and increase interest in Volunteering. Visitors to this year’s fair will have the opportunity to meet with representatives of 35 Volunteer Sending Agencies who will be providing specific information on short and long term volunteering opportunities. The Fair will also feature a panel discussion with returned volunteers who will share their experiences and there will also be workshops in volunteer selfsafety and volunteer fundraising. Irish Volunteers have a long and rich history of volunteering for service overseas and I know that this year’s Volunteering Fair will help continue that tradition. I wish you all an enjoyable, informative and fruitful day at the Volunteering Fair.

Joe McHugh T.D. Minister of State for Diaspora and International Development

Above Image: Minister of State Joe McHugh in Karamoja, Uganda in July 2016 Cover image: VSO Ireland education volunteer Maria Casey, from Co. Kerry, with VSO staﬀ members Amina Abdirashid and Jean Molly Ameru, and VSO volunteer Farai Kaitano at an Irish Aid funded project in Karamoja, Uganda.

Participating Organisations The Main Foyer: Saturday, 01 October 2016 11.00am – 5.00pm

Actionaid, ATD, AIESEC, Christina Noble Children’s Foundation, Development Perspectives, DINIT, EAPPI, EIL, EUAV, Friends of Londiani, Habitat for Humanity, The Hope Foundation, Lámha Suas, LMUI, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Nurture Africa, PBI International, The Sarah Bird Foundation, SAVIO, Serve, Suas, Tearfund, The Umbrella Foundation, UCD (Volunteers Overseas), Viatores Christi, Vincentian Lay Missionaires (VLM), Voluntary Service International (VSI), VSO Ireland, VMM International, Concern, Goal, Kimmage Development Studies Centre and of course Comhlámh and Irish Aid/UNV

@Irish_Aid

#IrishAidVolFair

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Programme for the day 4

Venue: The Poddle Room 1.30pm – 1.45pm

Minister of State Joe McHugh’s keynote speech.

1.45pm – 3.00pm

Panel discussion with Irish Aid, Comhlámh and 5 recently returned volunteers: Agnes Kipalo, Michelle Hesso, Alex Dunne and Marie Moreau.

Venue: Main foyer 35 volunteer sending agencies will be showcasing their programmes and projects (all day).

Venue: Courtyard room 1 12.00pm – 1.00pm

Volunteer self-care with Sarah Bird

Working in a difficult environment has an impact on our well-being. How we manage ourselves in times of stress is fundamental to our health and ability to perform effectively. This one hour long interactive session is aimed at giving you an overview of the impacts of pressure and stress on yourself and those around you. You will learn at least one effective tool for managing yourself when under pressure and how to breathe to relax both your body and mind. 3.00pm – 4.00pm

Fundraising tips for volunteers with Simon Scriver

More and more frequently volunteers are requested to raise funds before they travel on behalf of their volunteer sending agency, and this can be daunting, intimidating and grim! This 90 minute workshop will take you through some tips for fundraising and equip you with some fresh ideas and new impetus to raise your target amount before you travel.

Irish Aid is the Government of Ireland’s oﬀicial aid programme administered by the Department of Foreign Aﬀairs and Trade, working on behalf of the Irish people to address poverty and hunger in some of the poorest countries in the world. Irish Aid is committed to ensuring that there are an increased number of opportunities for Irish people who wish to share their skills in response to the needs of partners in the developing world.

UNV Volunteer Specialist UNV maintains a database of candidates interested in volunteering which it uses to fill volunteer positions with UN agencies in developing countries. Irish Aid funds a number of specialist positions. Specialist Volunteers are normally placed on assignments of up to 24 months within a UN agency in a developing country, where they contribute their professional expertise.

The Irish Aid Volunteering Initiative was launched at the 2013 Irish Aid Volunteering Fair, and complements and enhances work that has been undertaken and supported through our aid programme to date.

Register to be a UN Volunteer and find more information on volunteering with the UN http://www.unv.org/how-to-volunteer/register-to-bea-un-volunteer.html.

The Irish Aid Volunteering Fair aims to showcase and increase engagement with a variety of diﬀerent of overseas volunteering opportunities. Many nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and missionary organisations supported by Irish Aid include volunteer sending as part of their development programmes. A significant number of these organisations are represented at the Fair.

UNV Online Volunteer Irish Aid has supported UNV in establishing and running an Online Volunteering Service through which volunteers can oﬀer their skills online to development organisations: https://www.onlinevolunteering.com

United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Hundreds of Irish people have volunteered with the United Nations, working with UN agencies or on humanitarian response and peacekeeping missions. Irish Aid supports the United Nations Volunteer (UNV) Programme, in its work of promoting volunteerism, deploying volunteers, testing new and innovative approaches to volunteering as well as undertaking research and analysis.

Through this service, development organisations advertise volunteering opportunities online and interested individuals identify suitable assignments that match their interests, expertise, and skills. They submit their applications directly to the organisations, which select the volunteers they would like to engage in their activities.

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Comhlámh’s Code of Good Practice for Volunteer Sending Agencies

UNV Youth Volunteer With development cooperation funding from Irish Aid, UNV deploys a number of UN Youth Volunteers each year to a UN oﬀice in a developing country for a period of 12 months, with the opportunity to develop and apply their skills, knowledge and capacities in support of promoting sustainable peace and development. UN Youth Volunteer assignments are normally advertised each year in August/September and are also posted on the Irish Aid website. Please visit the UNV volunteer page http://www.unv.org/how-tovolunteer.html for more information on this and other UNV volunteering programs. Rapid Response Corps In response to the demand for increased emergency response assistance, a Rapid Response Initiative was developed by Irish Aid in 2007. The Rapid Response Corps, a register of volunteers with specialised skills in areas such as child protection, gender, information management, protection and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) represents a key component of this initiative. Members of the Corps have been deployed on 270 occasions to 46 countries, supporting humanitarian relief operations with our UN partners. Recruitment for the Rapid Response Corps in 2015 is now closed. Any further opportunities for recruitment will be advertised on the Irish Aid website, www.irishaid.ie as the need arises. www.irishaid.ie/get-involved/rapid-response-corps/

Applicants should have a strong commitment to humanitarian principles, substantial technical qualifications, and relevant experience. Humanitarian experience with a multinational agency or an international NGO is highly desirable. Successful applicants should be in a position to be deployed at short notice for periods of 3 to 6 months.

The Comhlámh Code of Good Practice for Volunteer Sending Agencies is a set of standards aimed at ensuring that overseas volunteering has a positive impact for the volunteer, the sending agency, the host project and community.

In addition to the information contained within this booklet, the Irish Aid website https://www.irishaid.ie/get-involved/volunteering/ has detailed information and links on volunteering where prospective and returned volunteers can avail of online resources relevant to volunteers.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

For further information on any of the above initiatives please contact: Irish Aid Centre 3 Clonmel Street Oﬀ Harcourt Street Dublin 2 Tel. +353 1-408 2820 E-mail: irishaidcentre@dfa.ie Open: Mon-Fri 10am to 5pm Please also take the time to view our Website: www.irishaid.ie

The Code sets out 11 different principles that are key features of quality volunteer programmes. All organisations that sign up to the Code of Good Practice agree to the following: Our volunteer programmes are based on realistic aims and objectives and provide volunteer roles that are appropriate and valuable to the host community. Our organisation provides potential volunteers with accurate and independent information about the organisation and volunteer placements. Our organisation uses equitable, consistent and transparent volunteer recruitment and application procedures. Our organisation ensures that volunteers participate in appropriate preparation, training and induction. Our organisation provides sufficient resources to local partners to run sustainable volunteer programmes. Our organisation takes all practicable steps to ensure the protection, safety and well-being of volunteers and partner community members. Our organisation provides comprehensive and effective debriefing for returned volunteers. Our programme development is informed by ongoing monitoring and evaluation. Our organisation supports volunteers to understand the wider context of development in which volunteering is taking place, and encourages continued learning and engagement. Our organisation accepts and celebrates the diversity and individuality of our volunteers and assists and provides for their varying support needs. Our organisation provides and promotes messages and imagery consistent with good practice, and clear expressions of organisational aims, ethos and values.

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Questions to Ask Volunteer Sending Organisations

The Code of Good Practice is open to all Irish-based volunteer sending agencies. By signing up to the Code of Good Practice, an organisation shows that it supports the values and principles articulated throughout the document, and makes a commitment to implement the principles if they are not already in place. Comhlámh and the VSAs that are signatories to the Code of Good Practice worked to comprehensively revise the Code in 2015, guided by a dedicated review group and supplemented by workshops with all signatories. This inclusive process resulted in a number of outcomes, which included introducing a lifecycle approach to the Code’s principles, assessing and strengthening the core indicators, signing oﬀ on a tiered system of compliance, and developing a signatory statement that will help ensure buy-in to the Code’s values at board level. The revised principles focus on ensuring that development education is integrated into signatories’ activities from the outset : principle 9 now states that volunteers should be supported to understand the wider context of development in which volunteering is taking place, and that their continued learning and engagement in international development should be encouraged. Comhlámh’s research indicates a trend towards very shortterm placements overseas (4 weeks or less), and this update emphasises the importance VSA’s place on supporting the continuous engagement of volunteers, if longer-term impacts to be realised as a result of shortterm stays overseas.

1. What are the organisation’s main aims and goals?

2. Is the organisation non-profit or for-profit? 3. Is the organisation a signatory to the Comhlámh Code of Good Practice? If so, what steps are they taking to implement the code? 4. What selection criteria does the organisation have when choosing volunteers? 5. What is the involvement of the host community in the project? 6. Is there a job description available? 7. What are the conditions in which volunteers live and work? 8. Can the organisation put you in touch with previous volunteers? 9. Can the organisation give you contact details for your host project? 10. Does the organisation provide pre-programme training and post-programme support for volunteers? 11. Does the organisation have appropriate health and safety, critical incident, child protection, and other relevant policies? 12. Are there costs associated with the volunteer placement and, if so, can you get a breakdown of how they are spent?

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Questions to Ask Yourself? 10

1. What are my motivations for volunteering overseas? And how do they link to my expectations? 2. What are my skills?

Information on Volunteer Programmes and Participating Organisations Disclaimer: Please note that the following information has been provided by participating organisations directly.

Comhlámh 3. What type of working and living conditions would best suit me? 4. Would I like to work directly with the host community, or would I prefer to volunteer alongside other expatriates? 5. How long am I prepared to commit myself for? 6. What are my personal health and emotional needs? 7. What are the personal circumstances that may aﬀect my choices?

For more useful information on volunteering and to help you find a suitable volunteering placement, please visit www.volunteeringoptions.org or see #VolOps on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, or email info@comhlamh.org

Comhlámh’s vision is of volunteers and development workers working in solidarity for a just, equitable and sustainable world. Our mission is to foster good practice and critical engagement in volunteering and action for development. We are the Irish Association of Volunteers and Development Workers. Our work is driven by the experiences and passions of our members and supporters, whether they are returned volunteers/development workers or those with an interest in working for global justice from Ireland. Some of our key services for volunteers include our Code of Good Practice for Volunteer Sending Agencies,

which was updated in 2015, our Volunteer Charter, to which we invite all overseas volunteers to sign up and adhere to, courses for volunteers before and after placements, supports and services for returning volunteers and development workers in areas such as counselling, debriefing, career guidance and social welfare benefits. We are continuing to use #VolOps, which we are using to harness social media to match volunteers with sending agencies. And we work to promote ways of staying engaged in global justice issues after an overseas placement, including through our memberled groups that aim to tackle global inequality and promote development from Ireland. Web: www.comhlamh.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/comhlamh Twitter: @comhlamh Email: info@comhlamh.org Phone: +353 1 4783490

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Long Term Volunteering Sending Agencies ATD Ireland: All Together in Dignity International ATD Ireland is member of All Together in Dignity International, a human-rights organisation that works in 40 countries in global North and South through grassroots projects in partnership with people living in poverty. ATD focuses on reaching our families who have a long history of poverty & educational disadvantage, even in so-called "developed" countries. Individuals, couples or families of all ages, from a variety of backgrounds, skills & qualifications, make up a diverse group of dedicated full-time workers: the ATD Overseas Full-Time Volunteer Corps. They agree to live on the same basic stipends & make themselves available to go where their expertise & skills are most needed. First step to joining the ATD Volunteer Corps is involvement in ATD activities and projects here in Ireland (International webpage about the ATD Volunteer Corps: www.atd-fourthworld.org/get-involved/learn-aboutthe-volunteer-corps/) Web: www.atdireland.ie Email: volunteering@atdireland.ie

Concern Worldwide Concern Worldwide works with the world's poorest people to transform their lives. We are an international humanitarian organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and suﬀering in the world’s poorest countries. We work in partnership with the very poorest people in these countries, directly enabling them to improve their

lives, as well as using our knowledge and experience to influence decisions made at a local, national and international level that can significantly reduce extreme poverty. Since its foundation, Concern has gone on to work in over 50 countries, responding to major emergencies as well as working in long term development programmes. Today, with more than 3,200 staﬀ of 50 nationalities, we operate in 26 of the world’s poorest countries, helping people to achieve major and long-lasting improvements in their lives. Website: www.concern.net Email: info@concern.net Telephone: +353 1 417 7700

GOAL GOAL is an international humanitarian agency dedicated to alleviating the suﬀering of the poorest of the poor. We are a non-denominational, nongovernmental and non-political organisation. Since its inception, GOAL has spent in excess of €790 million on humanitarian programmes in more than 50 countries. Many thousands of staﬀ, local and international, have worked for GOAL in the developing world, helping the organisation respond to every major humanitarian disaster since 1977. GOAL is currently working in 14 countries: Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Uganda, Zimbabwe and the Philippines. Web: www.goal.ie Email: info@goal.ie Phone:+353 1 280 9779

Peace Brigades International (PBI)

Viatores Christi

Peace Brigades International (PBI) provides protection, support and recognition to local human rights defenders at their request. International protective accompaniment, pioneered by PBI, enables human rights defenders in areas of repression and conflict to carry on with their work. We believe that lasting transformation of conflicts cannot be imposed from outside, but must be based on the capacity and desires of local people. Therefore we avoid imposing, interfering or getting directly involved in the work of the organisations we accompany. PBI recruits volunteers to work in seven countries worldwide for a minimum commitment of one year.

Viatores Christi is dedicated to the recruitment, training and placement of volunteers on specialist projects identified by our mission partners. We recruit those over the age of 21 with transferable skills from many diﬀerent backgrounds. We seek those who are flexible, motivated and proven self-starters who are willing to take on a new challenge to work for the good of others.

Web: www.peacebrigades.org Email: pbiireland@peacebrigades.org Phone: +44 20 710680775

Voluntary Service International (VSI)

Vincentian Lay Missionaries (VLM) VLM aims to support the building of a future for those most in need in the poorest areas of Ethiopia, to highlight the global issue of poverty and to advocate and support action for change. VLM works in partnership with the Daughters of Charity and the Vincentian Fathers who are its hosts and mentors. VLM is a faith based organisation which works with people of all faiths and none. Web: www.vlm.ie Email: info@vlm.ie Phone: +353 1 810 2570 & +353 87 1397 069

Voluntary (VMM)

Missionary

VSI is the Irish branch of Service Civil International, a worldwide peace movement started in 1920. VSI is a membership organisation and a registered charity. VSI works to promote peace, social justice, sustainable development and intercultural understanding through volunteering abroad and in Ireland. VSI has 750 +short term projects available each year in 50 countries worldwide plus 60 + medium/long term placements. Volunteers receive free food and basic accommodation. Volunteers cover their travel costs and pay a project fee to VSI ranging from €50 for an Irish project to €90 for a European project to €140 for a project in a developing country. There are additional fees to partner groups in the Global South (€100-€250). Web: www.vsi.ie Email: info@vsi.ie Phone: +353 1 855 101

Movement

Voluntary Missionary Movement is an international lay faith-based NGO founded in 1969. VMM recruits, trains and supports skilled professionals to work in areas of need in Africa and Asia. Placements are usually for one to two years during which time VMM provides predeparture orientation training, volunteer monthly allowance, travel insurance, return flight and 24 hour project support. Web: www.vmminternational.org Email: info@vmminternational.org Phone: +353 1 8734 562

Web: www.vcvolunteers.ie Email: info@viatoreschristi.com Phone: +353 1 868 9986

Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) VSO is an international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in low-income countries. Its high-impact approach involves bringing people together to share skills, change lives and make the world a fairer place for all. VSO recruits volunteers from the education, health, business, community and technical sectors. Web: www.vso.ie Email: volunteer@vso.ie Phone: +353 1 640 1060

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Short-Term Volunteering Sending Agencies AIESEC

Development Perspectives

AIESEC is the global youth network impacting the world through leadership development experiences. AIESEC has been facilitating youth leadership activities as well as volunteer experiences for over 65 years, across 126 countries & territories. Our volunteering programme Global Citizen - allows you to experience living and working abroad with cross-cultural teams and families, with experiences ranging from 6-8 weeks. Our programme gives you the opportunity to get involved in projects around the world, focused on Improving Literacy, Cultural Education, Social Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sustainability, Health, and more.

Development Perspectives is a Development Education NGO based in Drogheda, Co. Louth and is part of a national and global network of curious, critical thinkers and development practitioners working for social justice. Our mission is to actively involve people in learning about and then tackling social, political, environmental and economic challenges through an educational project in local and global communities.

Website: www.aiesec.ie E-mail: talentmanagement@aisec.ie

Christina Foundation

Noble

DINIT Children’s

Christina Noble Children’s Foundation is an international partnership of people dedicated to serving children in need of emergency and long-term medical care, nutritional rehabilitation, educational opportunities, vocational training and job placement, as well as children at risk of sexual and economic exploitation. While our volunteering program is based in Vietnam, we also support children in Mongolia. Web: www.cncf.ie Email: Ireland@cncf.org Phone: +353 1 645 5555

Web: www.developmentperspectives.ie Email: bobby@developmentperspectives.ie Phone: +353 41 9801005

Dinit is a Sending Agency, working with international humanitarian organisations. We pair the admirable trait of compassion with expertise in order to adhere to our mission of deploying the right people, at the right time in the right place. Dinit is developing partnerships with international humanitarian and development aid organisations who are not only making a positive contribution to the dignity of people, but who will also meet our standards for supporting our volunteers in the field. Web: www.dinit.ie Email: info@dinit.ie or recruitment@dinit.ie Phone: +353 85 7547264 or +353 87 7945112

Ecumenical Accompaniment EUAV Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) EU Aid EAPPI is an initiative of the World Council of Churches, managed in Ireland and the UK by Quaker Peace and Social Witness, supported by a range of organisations, including Trócaire. Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs) are based in Israel and occupied Palestine. They oﬀer protective presence, monitor human rights, support Palestinian and Israeli peace activists, and on their return undertake advocacy work based on their experiences. Web: www.eappi.org Email: enquiries@quaker.org.uk Phone: + 44 20 7663 1144

EIL Intercultural Learning EIL is a not for profit organisation supporting local projects around the world. We offer an International volunteer programme that provides the opportunity to learn about global justice through immersion in another culture. The programme involves living and working in local communities while learning about a new culture and gaining a new perspective of global and development issues. In addition, the Global Citizen Award is a personal development award that enables you to share your overseas volunteering experiences and help raise awareness of global issues in Ireland. The Award is free and open to all returned international volunteers. It offers you an opportunity to take what you have experienced overseas and continue to make a difference to Global Justice issues right here at home. Developed by EIL Intercultural Learning, the Award is funded by Irish Aid and supported by its partner volunteer sending Agencies. Web: www.globalcitizenaward.ie Email: info@globalcitizenaward.ie Phone: +353 21 4551535 Web: www.eilireland.org Email: info@eilvolunteerabroad.ie Phone: +353 21 455 1535

Volunteers brings together volunteers and organisations from diﬀerent countries, providing practical support to humanitarian aid projects and contributing to strengthening the local capacity and resilience of disaster-aﬀected communities. The EUAVI allows EU citizens to volunteer and contribute to providing humanitarian aid in the form of local capacity building, disaster risk reduction and recovery.

The aim of the initiative is to deploy 4000 EU citizens to work on humanitarian projects, provide 4400 non EU citizens with capacity building opportunities and provide opportunities for 10,000 online volunteers between 2015 and 2020. To find out more about Comhlámh’s involvement in the initiative please visit: http://www.comhlamh.org /european-union-aidvolunteers-initiative-euavi/ and see the work they are engaging in as part of the Volunteering in Humanitarian Aid Web: www.volinha.eu Email: aine@comhlamh.org volunteering@comhlamh.org

Friends of Londiani Friends of Londiani is an Irish registered charity supporting rural communities in Kenya to make lasting changes and improvements to their lives. The volunteer programme oﬀers opportunities to work on community development programmes on the ground tackling issues related to health, education, water & sanitation and economic empowerment. Web: www.friendsoflondiani.com Email: info@friendsoflondiani.com Phone:+353 21 462 1748

Habitat for Humanity Ireland (HFH) HFH Ireland brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. In more than 70 countries around the world, including Ireland, Habitat engages families and communities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; advocates for fair and just housing policies; and provides training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Web: www.habitatireland.ie Email: mary@habitatireland.ie Phone: +353 1 531 0033

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The Hope Foundation

The Hope Foundation is an Irish charity working with street children and their families since 1999. Poverty is overwhelming in Kolkata with approximately 250,000 children living, sleeping and working on the streets of the city. We believe that Education is the ‘pathway out of poverty’ and have set up 40 education centres to provide after school support. HOPE’s nine protection homes ensure that the most vulnerable children have a safe place to live providing each child with his/her own bed, food, clothing, counselling, recreational activities and an opportunity to attend school. HOPE Hospital reaches out to the sick providing free medical care for all those who need it. HOPE also works with vulnerable families providing vocational training for mothers, fathers and older siblings while the children attend school.

Web: www.hopefoundation.ie Email: oﬀice@hopefoundation.ie (Dublin and West of Fiona@hopefoundation.ie Phone: +353 1 871 6930

Ireland)

or (Cork)

level, for mutual support and to explore issues of common interest and possibilities for joint activities, bringing the benefits of the overseas experience back home to local areas, parishes, communities and dioceses. Web: www.imu.ie Email: jim.farrell@amri.ie Phone: +353 1 531 0055

Missionaries of the Sacred Hearth Volunteering Project The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Volunteering Project (MSCVP) is a not for profit development organisation that works in South Africa with disadvantaged youth. We cooperate with our local partners to provide sustainable, practical volunteering placements that support the community. The work may be challenging, but it is an opportunity to make a real diﬀerence in people’s lives. Web: www.mscvocations.ie Email: fralan@mscvolunteering.com Phone: +353 86 785 7955

Lámha Suas Lámha Suas works in a rural village called Madudu, in Uganda, to support the education of young women and girls. We do this through a variety of projects including School Feeding Programmes - providing primary school pupils (boys and girls) with a mid-day cup of porridge, a Building Programme - providing primary schools with new classrooms, latrines etc., a Scholarship Programme - to enable girls to sit their A levels and go on to University or to attend Teacher Training College, a Safe Motherhood Programme to educate expectant mothers on safe birthing practices and a Volunteer Programme - bringing 6 volunteers to Madudu, for a period of 5 weeks, to live and work in the local community. Web: www.lamhasuas.ie Email: Deborah@lamhasuas.ie Deborahsheeran13@gmail.com Phone: +353 85 215 6880

Lay Mission Union Ireland (LMUI) The LMUI is a recently formed network of lay missionaries and faith-based volunteers, sending and receiving lay groups, acting in solidarity to meet common objectives and needs. It aims to promote the concept of lay faith-based volunteering and bring returned lay missionaries/volunteers together, at local

Sarah Bird Foundation The Sarah Bird Foundation works to empower individuals and communities by transforming the stress, trauma and suﬀering resulting from conflict and natural disaster, into lives of resilience and fulfilment. We do this by running trauma healing programmes that enable people to dissolve the emotional impact of their experiences and to take up their own lives again with a new found confidence.

Nurture Africa

Suas Educational Development

Nurture Africa is an Irish-founded internationally registered NGO that works in Uganda with a targeted focus upon Healthcare, Education, Child Protection & Gender Equality and Economic Empowerment through business training and microfinance projects. We are a non-denominational and non-political organisation.

Suas is an ambitious, education-focused, social change organisation with programmes in Ireland, India and East Africa. We promote quality education for all by providing short-term Volunteers, financial and technical support to our Partner schools in India & East Africa, and service learning Programmes in Ireland. Our overseas Volunteers work as teaching assistants alongside local teachers in India.

We facilitate structured & tailored short term overseas volunteer placements for Third Level Students & Professionals who are willing to oﬀer their invaluable time, skills and energy in order to assist our work. Web: www.nurtureafrica.ie Email: kevin@nurtureafrica.ie Phone: +353 1 542 4177

SAVIO Salesian Volunteers Ireland and Overseas', the volunteering organisation of the Salesians in Ireland, provides opportunities for adults to volunteer for and with disadvantaged youth in Salesian communities world-wide. Savio provides opportunities for adults to ‘learn through action’ on justice and peace issues and oﬀers a training programme to facilitate volunteers before, during and after their placements. Web: www.savio.ie Email: saviovolunteer@gmail.com Phone: +353 87 776 2931 / +353 86 304 3453

SERVE

Internationally we have worked with earthquake survivors in Nepal and Pakistan and conflict survivors and veterans in Ireland, Kosovo, Myanmar, the US and UK.

SERVE is a development and volunteering organisation committed to tackling poverty in the majority world. SERVE strives to do this by working in solidarity, service and partnership with marginalised and oppressed communities, empowering them to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice. SERVE oﬀers short-term volunteer placements each summer to South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, India, and the Philippines.

We support other NGO’s by delivering Essential self-care workshops for their development workers and volunteers.

Web: www.serve.ie/get-involved/ Email: info@serve.ie Phone: +353 21 435 8800 (Ext 204)

We work closely in Ireland with Ruhama and are a solidarity partner with Comhlamh.

Web: www.sarahbirdfoundation.org Email; info@sbf.ie Phone: +353 1 902 3622

Web: www.suas.ie Email: info@suas.ie Phone: +353 1 662 1400

Tearfund Tearfund was founded in the UK in 1968 to help the people aﬀected by war in the short-lived republic of Biafra, southern Nigeria. It is recognised worldwise as a leading relief and development agency. Tearfund has operated in the island of Ireland for more than 40 years with a strong network of supporters and churches. Website: www.tearfund.ie Email: enquries@tearfund.ie Telephone +353 1 878 3200

UCD (Volunteers Overseas) UCDVO is a charitable organisation that oﬀers students, staﬀ and alumni of UCD the opportunity to participate in a 12-month development education programme, which includes 4 weeks volunteering overseas. While overseas UCDVO works in partnership with local organisations and NGOs on small scale development projects in response to local needs in India, Haiti, Nicaragua, Uganda and Tanzania. Our programme aims to encourage reflection, discussion and action around the complex topics of global citizenship and international development. Web: www.ucdvo.org Email: info@ucdvo.org Phone: +353 1 716 8570/8588

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The Umbrella Foundation

The Umbrella Foundation is a non-profit, registered charity working to protect and empower vulnerable children and their families in Nepal through projects promoting family unity, education and community development. Volunteers are oﬀered learning opportunities to foster intercultural understanding and awareness of development issues and help by assisting with projects, administration and skill-sharing both in the NGO itself and rural school communities. Web: www.umbrellanepal.org Email: irishoﬀice@umbrellanepal.org Phone: +353 86 860 2913

Other Interests Actionaid Actionaid is a global movement of people working together to further human rights and defeat poverty for all. We focus on the people that others forget. People in poverty. People who face discrimination. People whose voices are ignored. Web: www.actionaid.ie Email: info@actionaid.ie Phone: +353 1 878 7911

Kimmage Centre

Development

Studies

Kimmage DSC is a dedicated development studies centre and our mission is to promote critical thinking and action for justice, equality and the eradication of poverty. Our courses address the many challenges facing development workers and activists in an ever more complex and changing world. Our programmes enable participants to reflect on and respond to issues such as poverty, human rights, inequality, governance, gender, conflict, food insecurity, aid and climate change. All of our courses are designed specifically for volunteers, development practitioners and those interested in development issues and are practical, skills based and learner centred. Web: www.kimmagedsc.ie Email: info@kimmagedsc.ie Phone: +353 1 406 4386

Are you thinking about volunteering overseas? Concerned about all the options and not sure which organisation is right for you? The Comhlámh Code of Good Practice (CoGP) for Volunteer Sending Agencies is your guarantee that your sending organisation has signed up to 11 principles of responsible volunteering focussed on your volunteer experience, the impact on the partner community and the sustainability of the programme. The CoGP is funded by Irish Aid and is respected globally as the gold standard for international volunteering. Organisations are audited annually to ensure the highest quality standards. You should see either the signatory, core standards or comprehensive compliance logos on the websites. Organisations that do not send volunteers but are involved in the development sector can become “supporters” of the Code of Good Practice. If your employer or college/ university is not already a supporter of the CoGP, why not encourage them to contact Comhlámh (info@comhlamh.org) and find out how they can demonstrate their commitment to responsible sustainable volunteering by becoming a supporter.

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